Lord of the Truth

One Week Later – Planet Jura– Research and Development City

Just a few months ago, this place was nothing more than a dangerous wilderness, an untamed mountainside crawling with beasts and unknown dangers. A land where humans dared not tread unless absolutely necessary. However, fate had something entirely different in store for this forsaken land.

By a twist of luck —or perhaps destiny— this very location had been chosen to host a secret space portal, a last resort meant to be used only in dire emergencies. But secrecy, as always, was a fleeting illusion.

The emergency came far sooner than expected. The legions of the Great Serpent Empire descended like a storm, leaving destruction in their wake. Though the space portal itself miraculously survived the chaos, it was no longer a hidden asset. Its location had been exposed as it was used, its activation recorded, and soon enough, it would appear on every radar across the region for decades. A burned card. No longer a trump card for desperate times.

And so, in a bold move, the decision was made—this place, once a barren land of dangers and forgotten ruins, would become something new. Something grand.

It would become The City of Research and Development!

A city that would stand as the heart of innovation and progress for the True Empire. A city that would gather the brightest minds, the greatest scholars, the most daring inventors, and the most ambitious researchers.

Thud!

A loud impact echoed as a young man collapsed onto both knees, his body trembling as if every ounce of strength had left him. He had walked for weeks, endured hardships beyond measure, and now, finally, he had arrived.

With a dramatic flourish, he spread his arms wide, as though expecting the city itself to embrace him. His eyes shimmered like twin stars, brimming with dreams and boundless enthusiasm. His lips curled into an enormous grin, stretching from one ear to the other, his excitement practically infectious to anyone who laid eyes on him.

Before him stood the city's incomplete walls, towering structures of reinforced stone and intricate metalwork. The sounds of construction filled the air—clang clang went the hammers, hissss crackled the flames of welding torches. He took it all in, every sight, every sound, every scent of fresh metal and burning stone.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, he could no longer contain himself.

He threw back his head and let out a triumphant shout—

"AAHHH! I finally made it! I've finally arrived at my new home!!"

His deafening cry turned heads. The builders and rune masters, standing atop scaffolds and working tirelessly, paused for a brief moment, glancing toward the overexcited newcomer. Some chuckled. Others shook their heads in amusement. But none stopped their work—this city would not build itself.

However, not everyone remained silent.

SMACK!

A powerful slap landed on the back of the young man's head.

"Ow! Who dares strike the future Great Rune Master?!" he yelped, spinning around with an indignant glare.

Standing behind him was an older man, seemingly in his late forties, with an unkempt beard and a reddish nose, likely from too much drinking. The man let out a rough, mocking laugh.

"Get up, you brat, and stop embarrassing yourself. You have to be accepted first." He then jabbed a finger behind him.

The young man followed his gesture, only to see a long line of people stretching toward the city's entrance. There were hundreds—no, possibly thousands—of individuals waiting patiently in line. Some were young, barely past their teenage years. Others were elderly, their backs bent with age. The one thing they all had in common was the same eager, expectant look in their eyes.

The same look he had just moments ago.

Paa Paa

The young man stood up, patted the dirt off his knees, and straightened his posture. Then, with an air of supreme confidence, he declared,

"Hmph! It's just an entrance exam, a mere formality! What could possibly stop me from becoming a Great Inscription Master? If I may say so myself, I was born with a naturally strong soul! Back in my city, I scored an astonishing 25 Soul Units during my examination!"

At that very moment, a voice rang out from within the city's walls—

"All applicants, proceed toward the gate in a single-file line! Organize yourselves according to your arrival time. Anyone who disrupts the order will be removed from the queue and sent back home on foot!"

"Haha! My golden opportunity has arrived! My true dream is coming to life—a life of easy riches awaits me!" The young man clapped his hands together excitedly and rushed toward the line.

Behind him, the red-nosed old man sighed, shaking his head as he followed at a slower pace.

"You really are hopeless," he muttered. Then, in a more serious tone, he continued, "If all you want is to make money as a Rune Master, you could enter any academy in the Six Continents. What are you doing here in the Research and Development City? This place wasn't built for fortune-seekers. It was built to gather the greatest researchers and the most visionary minds from every corner of this planet—no, from every planet under His Excellency's dominion. This is not a place for games."

"That makes it the best place for anyone who wants to stay up to date with the latest advancements!" The young man rubbed his hands together eagerly, his eyes shining with anticipation as he saw his golden opportunity approaching. "Just wait and see! I'll fulfill my family's dream! I'll become the richest Rune Master in the world!"

The red-nosed old man, walking beside him, gave him a sidelong glance but chose not to argue. The moment he heard those words—family dream— he knew there was no point in debating further.

Planet Jura had endured far too many tragedies over the past few decades. Whether it was the devastating Demon Invasion, the rise of The People's Movement, or the brutal assault of the Great Serpent Empire, each event had left deep scars on the planet and its people. The planet had been battered and broken, its inhabitants stripped of their wealth, their homes, and, in many cases, their loved ones. Almost every family had suffered loss, and those who survived had to start their lives over from the rubble.

Emily, the Administrative Headquarters Leader, had worked tirelessly alongside Jura's brightest minds to combat the famine and economic collapse that followed. She secured food supplies from Greenland, ensuring that the population did not starve. But while hunger could be eased, the emotional wounds left by war were much harder to heal.

The younger generation —those who had watched their families be torn apart— would not simply accept food as compensation for what they had lost. They were a generation raised on bitterness and resentment, a generation that would never forget.

Many among them had come to resent the True Beginning Empire, blaming its rise for the chaos that had befallen them. Some had even begun whispering of a second People's Movement, fearing that rebellion would soon rise once more.

And then, something happened that changed everything.

The War That Shook the Heavens.

Footage from Planet Nihari was leaked, showing a battle so catastrophic that it sent shockwaves throughout the 13 planets. Images of blazing fleets, shattered bodies. The people of Jura watched in stunned silence as they realized the truth— While they had suffered, His Excellency and his forces weren't sitting idle, they had been fighting for them.

This revelation ignited a fire within the people. Soon after, massive memorials were erected in honor of the fallen. The stories of legendary city defenses —cities that had held out against impossible odds— were spread and celebrated. The families of those who had fought bravely were rewarded, and the cities that had shown the greatest resilience received grand treasures in recognition of their endurance.

At the same time, the military scaled back its presence after securing control over all major continents. Instead of forcing enlistment, they opened recruitment centers where volunteers could sign up at their own will. Soldiers were promised generous salaries, enough to support both themselves and their families. And through the Merit Point System, they could earn land grants— not just on Planet Jura, but on other planets as well.

These new opportunities shifted the focus of Jura's youth. No longer were they consumed by internal strife. No longer did they speak of rebellion. Instead, they set their sights on a new goal— power, wealth, and status.

The younger generation had opened their eyes to the new reality of their world.

It wasn't about justice or revenge.

It was about greed.

A relentless hunger for strength, influence, and security. A deep-rooted desire to rise above the chaos, to ensure that neither they nor their families would ever suffer again.

The red-nosed old man sighed deeply as he pondered this shift in mindset. He couldn't tell if it was a natural consequence of everything they had endured or if someone had orchestrated it from behind the scenes. Either way, it didn't seem like the worst possible outcome.

He reached out and ruffled the young man's hair. "I hope you find what you're looking for, boy… but I fear your path won't be an easy one, your whole generation is thinking about the same thing, and your competition will be fierce."

"Get your hands off me, old man!!" The young man swatted the hand away with an annoyed expression, carefully fixing his hair. Then, he turned back to the line, watching as it inched forward. Ahead of them stood dozens of eager applicants, while behind them stretched a seemingly endless line of hopefuls—each one determined to carve out a future for themselves.

"What's with the sudden change in attitude?" the young man scoffed. "In any case, nothing is difficult for me! I have 25 Soul Units!"

The old man chuckled. "Heh… be sure to tell that to your examiner when you meet her. I'm sure she'll be very impressed."

"Huh?"

Curious, the young man leaned slightly out of the line to follow the old man's gaze.

What he saw froze him in place.

There, seated at a simple wooden desk, was a young woman.

She had short blonde hair, and her white uniform was adorned with small, elegant green armor pieces, giving her a look that balanced both grace and strength. Her breathtaking beauty, her gentle smile, and the intelligence shining in her clear eyes—it was an unmistakable combination.

There was only one person known for such a striking presence.

His breath caught in his throat. His body stiffened. His mind struggled to process what he was seeing, "That… is that… is that…?!"

His voice faltered. His vision blurred. His knees buckled.

Thud!

He collapsed to the ground, unconscious.